DictionaryAI

Israel

proper noun
IZ-ray-uhl/ˈɪz.ɹeɪ.əl/

7 meanings of Israel

Practice

  1. 1
    modern countryproper nouncountable or uncountable
    A country in the Middle East, on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

    Israel shares borders with Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

    Many tourists visit Israel to see the old city of Jerusalem.

    Note
  2. 2
    Jewish peopleproper nounliterarycountable or uncountable
    The Jewish people thought of together as one group, used in prayers and poems.

    The prayer asks God to grant peace to all Israel.

    The rabbi said the old prayer speaks to all of Israel as one family.

    Note
  3. 3
    Bible homelandproper nouncountable or uncountable
    The land and kingdom of the Jewish people in ancient times, as told in the Bible.

    In the Bible, Israel is the land promised to Abraham and his children.

    In the Bible, David became king over all of Israel.

    Note
  4. 4
    northern kingdomproper nounhistoricalcountable or uncountable
    An old northern kingdom in the Land of Israel, separate from the southern kingdom of Judah.

    After Solomon died, Israel split away from Judah in the south.

    The northern kingdom of Israel had its own kings and capital.

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    Jacobproper nouncountable or uncountable
    A second name given to the patriarch Jacob in the Bible.

    After wrestling the angel, Jacob was renamed Israel.

    The twelve sons of Israel became the heads of the tribes.

    SimilarJacob

    Note
  2. 6
    proper noun
    A boy's first name that comes from Hebrew.
  3. 7
    proper noun
    A last name used by some families.

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Origin

This name came into English through Latin and Greek from Hebrew Yisra'el. In the Bible it is the name given to Jacob, and his descendants were called Israelites.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts